She performed a solo with the Clark Sisters at the gospel wailers' UK concert and caught a sweet break with the Fine Young Cannibals, who needed some gospel singers for an album project; with Brown on board, the sessions were good enough to land FYC a record deal and Brown a gig on their worldwide promotional tour.
She returned to Birmingham after the expedition, finished school, and worked as a receptionist for a law office before accepting a touring gig with Ruby Turner that lasted two years.
Her reputation grew quickly and Brown found work with Simply Red, Snap!, Joe Cocker, the Brand New Heavies, Babyface, Chaka Khan, and others.
Brown co-wrote six tracks on her debut album Next to You; the selections include a duet, "Could Be You", cut in New Jersey with labelmate Dennis Taylor.
In 2007, Brown sang a duet with Justin Hawkins on "Making Your Mind Up", which was broadcast on the BBC, in the hope of representing the UK in Eurovision Song Contest 2007.